Women who are overweight or obese when pregnant are one third more likely to
give birth early, researchers have warned.

Maternal obesity is a growing problem in Britain as the proportion of overweight adults in the general population increases.

NHS labour wards have had to buy bigger beds, widen doors and are carrying out more caesarean sections on women who are overweight because of the extent of the problem.

Overweight or obese women were more likely to to give birth before 32 weeks or 33 weeks and the heavier the woman was the more likely she was to deliver early with the very obese 82 per cent more likely to give birth very prematurely.

The study published online in the British Medical Journal also found doctors were more likely to induce birth early when a woman was overweight or obese.

The research was conducted by Sarah McDonald, Associate Professor at McMaster University, in Ontario, Canada.